Mrs Gorbachev revelled in her role as the Soviet Union's first-ever First Lady, adopting a much higher profile than any of her predecessors.
With her stylish outfits and big smile, Raisa was an important part of Mikhail Gorbachev's wooing of the West.
But it became clear that glamour apart , she wielded considerable influence on her husband's decision-making.
As the Soviet Union's first "style ambassador", Mrs Gorbachev represented a one woman demonstration of "glasnost" and "perestroika".
Her globe-trotting took her to meetings with many politicians; with those on the right, such as the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher ...
... and those on the left, like Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Raisa never really recovered from the August 1991 coup attempt; imprisonment with her husband and fear of death led to a stroke.